<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  INFORMATION   EXTRACTED  FROM  THE  UNAUDITED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRANT'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED
JUNE 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0001052196
<NAME>                        DSET Corporation
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollar
       
<S>                             <C>                        <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS                      6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-1998              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                            JAN-01-1998              JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                              JUN-30-1998              JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                           1                        1
<CASH>                                    3,041                    1,083
<SECURITIES>                              39,388                   1,472
<RECEIVABLES>                             7,088                    6,416
<ALLOWANCES>                              (90)                     (28)
<INVENTORY>                               0                        0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                          49,645                   8,967
<PP&E>                                    2,834                    2,113
<DEPRECIATION>                            (1,164)                  (711)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                            51,854                   10,896
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                     5,302                    4,120
<BONDS>                                   0                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                     0                        11,174
<PREFERRED>                               0                        0
<COMMON>                                  41,054                   1,403
<OTHER-SE>                                5,394                    (6,117)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>              51,854                   10,896
<SALES>                                   12,262                   8,232
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                          12,262                   8,232
<CGS>                                     2,388                    2,105
<TOTAL-COSTS>                             8,373                    4,697
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                          0                        0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                          0                        0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        11                       2
<INCOME-PRETAX>                           2,126                    1,472
<INCOME-TAX>                              783                      486
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       1,343                    986
<DISCONTINUED>                            0                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0                        0
<CHANGES>                                 0                        0
<NET-INCOME>                              1,343                    986
<EPS-PRIMARY>                             0.16                     0.16
<EPS-DILUTED>                             0.13                     0.12
        

</TABLE>